Government may open Gulf routes for Jet Airways & Air Sahara

This would probably be the Government's new year gift for India's two designated private airlines, Jet Airways and Air Sahara. The government is planning to review its norms for operating flights to the Middle East — a protected sector that is today operated only the state-owned airlines — and open it up for designated private airlines too. This, sources said, is part of the government's move to unshackle the protection that's currently being given to state-owned carriers and prepare them to compete in a free market. A ministry of civil aviation spokesperson, when contacted, denied any such move. "A review of the protection norm for flights to Gulf is underway. The government is examining the feasibility of opening up the Gulf route to designated private airlines and its impact on the state-owned carriers," a source close to the development said.

The review is expected to be completed by early next year, following which the revised norm would be referred to the Union Cabinet for a formal approval. If approved, this would mean that Jet Airways and Air Sahara would be able to start flights to the Gulf region, including United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. These are seen as highly profitable sectors in view of the heavy passenger traffic from south India. The restriction was imposed nearly two years ago when the government opened up overseas routes, minus Gulf, for those private airlines which have completed five years of flights on the domestic routes.

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